Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-11
DAILY HERALD.
WOMAN's DEPARTMENT.
spsrEp BY BELLE MgADE SMITH.
The Los Angeles orphan Asy-


The Los Angeles Orphan Asy-
Ium,
Or the Sisters school, as in the neigh
!borhood it is known, is a time-hon-
-ored institution, which recalls "The
bravo old DAYS" OF "The City of the
Angeles, and as well the grand old
missions established throughout the
STATE. The asylum is on Alameda
street, now the noisy railroad center
Of the busy city of to-day; but the
building, noble and poetic in its de-
cay, and the countless deep-rooted
trees scattered through the extensive
grounds belong more to the past than
to the present. The asylum is three
stories high and is rambling in its
construction. Upon the first floor are
the music rooms, class rooms, in
which are life-size figures OF St. Jo-
scph and the Madonna, and chapel,
which possesses the beauty and
iinpressiveness characteristic OF
its holy Office. Upon the second
floor are the clothes-room, serving
room and dormitories; also a class
room; but the third floor is entirely
devoted to sleeping purposes. In
separate wing OF the first floor is the
antiquated reception-room, the dining
rooms and the Kitchen. The bakery
is distinct from the building, but is
in the yard that surrounds it. while
in another separate building are the
schools for tie small children. There
are q large number OF little ones
located in the house, but the school
is attended by many of the children
OF the neighborhood. The gardens o.
the Orphanage are beautiful and ex-
tended. They contain large yeget-
able patch. vineyard and grove OF
walnut trees, interspersed with chest
nut and fruit trees of great variety.
1t is the delight of the children to 20
on little impromptu picnics or nuttlng
parties into this grove, as they fire.
Quently do. In the pasture which
skirts the grove are picketed six
matronly-looking cows, who-e pro-
vince it is to furnish the
abundant milk which the or
phans consume. One of the walks
through the garden. is covered
with grape arbor which in sum-
mer is completely shaded with
the vines that Chamber over, while in
the chi.dren's especial play ground is
a bower around which are twined the
gnarled trunks of vines planted long
before the institution was started. In
the front yard the Distribution Arbor
stands b meath the shade OF a clump
OF gigantic willows. Before The noise
of the trains rendered it useless, this
arbor was at the close OF each school
term the festive scene of distribution.
AS the asylum has purchased a desir-
able location upon Boyle Heights.
where they soon expect to build a
large and modern institution, it is not
likely that these no lie trees W II long
DE allowed to stand; yet, on account
OF their majesty, as we'll as their as
ssciatiens, it would seem like sacri-
3lege to flew them down. In the alb
sence " Of Sister Josephine, the
Lady Superior, l was, escorted
through the house and grounds
ny SISTER ScnolaStlca, VINO treated
me with the utmost courtesy
and who gave me a charming ac-
count Of The original work, with which
she was identified. In 1856, she in
company with a number of other
Sisters Of Charity, (and all OF whom
came from Maryland) started the in
stitutioh. At the time, they were
unable to find an English speaking
child in the locality; and it was many
years. before the slightest improve
nents were made. But" Said Sister
Srholastica, from the first, believed
that Los Angeles was destined to have
great future, but l did not expect to
see it realized so soon." The new
building upon Boyle Knights, will be
commented about the first of January,
and as the old building is seriously
out Of repair. and in consequence is
very uncomfortable for the Sisters,
who. afesengaged in the noble and
seif4delying work, it is hoped that
when once begun, the orphanage will
sooh. be finished, ,...5-